GREEN Party councillor Chris McFarling has said he will not stand down as their next Parliamentary election candidate in favour of somebody from a Forest Alliance.

And neither will Labour Party candidate Cllr Di Martin move over to leave the election between current MP, Conservative Mr Mark Harper and an independent.

An idea for a Forest Alliance candidate to take on Mr Harper, with district council leader Cllr Tim Gwilliam backed on social media for the election ticket, has gained momentum.

But the Green Party and Labour have already chosen their candidates in Cllrs McFarling and Martin respectively, while the Brexit Party are unlikely to stay out of the contest having just picked Rev Sam Norton, from Parkend and Viney Hill, as their candidate.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S FORESTER